Three young Palestinian men were shot near the University of Vermont’s campus in Burlington, USA, on Saturday evening. Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdel Hamid, and Tahseen Ahmed, who are studying at different universities in the US, were the victims of the attack. According to the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), two of the victims are in intensive care, while one is expected to be released on Sunday. The motive behind the attack is unknown, and the Burlington police have not yet provided further information.
The ADC stated that they have reason to believe the attack was motivated by the victims being Arab. The victims were wearing a keffiyeh and speaking Arabic when a man shouted and harassed them before shooting them. The ADC called for the investigation to be treated as a hate crime, citing the rising anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian sentiment in the US as a contributing factor. Abed Ayoub, Director of the ADC, emphasized the need for law enforcement to recognize and address the violence stemming from hate.
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This incident comes at a time when anti-Palestinian sentiments in the US are on the rise. Both Republican and Democratic politicians have shown support for Israel’s recent war in Gaza, despite the increasing Palestinian death toll and allegations of war crimes. The Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip has resulted in the deaths of over 15,000 Palestinians and widespread destruction.
The Ramallah Friends School, where the victims studied in the occupied West Bank, expressed their distress and uncertainty about the condition of the three young men. They extended their thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families for a full recovery.
As investigations continue, the incident serves as a grim reminder of the violence and discrimination faced by Arab and Palestinian communities in the US. The call for justice and an end to hate crimes resonates strongly, as efforts to create a more inclusive society continue.
